| Creating a professional personal image is of | | | | change that impression by one day wearing a pair of |
| paramount importance if you work in any form of | | | | jeans and a polo shirt. If you are still trying to create |
| Sales, be it a real estate agent, mortgage broker, or | | | | an impression I would suggest being more |
| consultant. The image you portray creates the bulk | | | | conservative. |
| of the information a person uses to make a | | | | 7. As far as fashion, what sort of suit should I be |
| judgement on your credibility. As a professional | | | | wearing now? |
| Image Consultant and Personal Stylist, I will go over | | | | For men - if buying a new suit, make sure that it is |
| some basic tips on creating a professional looking | | | | of a classic style. Lapels on a jacket at the widest |
| personal style. | | | | part should measure half way to the edge of the |
| 1. Why Look professional? | | | | shoulder and should be single breasted - two or three |
| It's really important to be seen as being professional, | | | | buttons. If wearing a tie - the general rule is that the |
| ethical and honest in the same way you would see a | | | | tie should be the same width as the lapel at the |
| banker or an accountant or lawyer. When you think | | | | widest part. Currently the fashion is a real 'Beatles' |
| of those sorts of people, what are they wearing? | | | | look for suits. Skinny trousers and skinny ties with |
| Mostly they are wearing darkish coloured suits (dark | | | | skinny lapels. They look faddish and will look very |
| charcoal, navy blue or even black) with light shirts | | | | out-dated in a few years time. Classic will serve you |
| (white, pale blue, pale pink or other variations) with a | | | | well. It is not quite so clear cut for a women. My |
| light tie to blend with shirt or a brighter stronger tie | | | | suggestion here is to always stick to a light top and a |
| to contrast. The same goes for woman with a few | | | | dark suit - be careful with black as it can often look |
| exceptions, the tie is not necessary, niether is a collar | | | | very harsh and be careful with bright colours. A bright |
| for that matter, they could wear a t-shirt style top if | | | | (fuchsia pink, bright yellow, orange some reds) with a |
| they don't remove the jacket. For women, brown is | | | | dark can look a bit flashy or playful rather than |
| another great colour for the suit and dresses can also | | | | professional. |
| be substituted for skirts and trousers as long as it's in | | | | In this industry it's important to look 'not out of date' |
| the same kind of fabric as a suit would be made of. | | | | you don't have to look up to the minute fashionable. |
| 2. Should you wear a tie? | | | | If you are wearing something that is very high |
| In recent years there has also been a move away | | | | fashion (such as some of the extreme shoulder |
| from a tie except for the most important of | | | | detailing that's around for women and the large |
| meetings which has led to more patterns in shirts. In | | | | patterned floral shirts for men) you could be seen as |
| summer often jackets will not be worn in the | | | | being flighty and fickle - not a quality people want to |
| Northern states and the further north the less formal | | | | see in a professional they need to trust. |
| business attire is expected. | | | | 8. What are the biggest fashion mistakes people |
| 3. Should we dress the same if we are not seeing | | | | make? |
| clients? | | | | Most people have far too many clothes and far too |
| Anyone who is seeing clients or potential clients | | | | many clothes they don't wear so they waste their |
| should always look professional as above. When we | | | | money. (women more so than men) - Being under |
| 'dress-up' for work we put on our work persona and | | | | the illusion that things should fit straight off the rack |
| tend to act more professionally than when we are | | | | without alterations. - Wearing clothes that don't fit - |
| dressed for play i.e. the weekend or a night out. | | | | can be either too small or too big - wearing the same |
| Clothes make us feel and therefore act differently. | | | | clothes after putting on or taking off weight. - |
| 4. How do you get your staff to dress appropriately? | | | | Thinking a top that is on sale for $200 down from |
| Develop a dress code, communicate it and enforce it. | | | | $600 is a bargain and never wearing it. Quite often |
| Explain why it's important and give examples of | | | | things are on sale because nobody else could think of |
| what's OK and what's not. Make sure the senior | | | | how to wear the item. - Wearing jingly jewellery to |
| people in the organisation set the right tone and lead | | | | work - it's a distraction! |
| by example. | | | | 9. How often should you refresh your wardrobe? |
| 5. What about if we are seeing clients on the | | | | Certainly as you change from summer to winter |
| weekends? | | | | wardrobe clothes you should not store anything for |
| Once again the client's expectation is that you are | | | | next year that you haven't worn this year - give |
| professional ethical and honest, and as always you | | | | them away to charity or sell them on ebay or at a |
| need to demonstrate this regardless of the time of | | | | boot sale. If you can't bear to part with it, remove it |
| the week. Of course I am not advocating 80s power | | | | from your wardrobe and put it in a special box for |
| dressing but shirt and suit trousers for men and same | | | | safe keeping, you can throw it out later! You should |
| for women would be my minimum standard for | | | | add to your wardrobe in a controlled way and ideally |
| credibility. | | | | shop twice a year with a professional who can help |
| 6. Does the same apply for people in country and | | | | you to resist the things that don't work for you or |
| regional areas? | | | | work in your wardrobe, and take you to the places |
| Dress standards in country and regional areas are | | | | that have clothes that will fit you and that you can |
| sometimes a little different, to get some guidance | | | | mix and match. |
| look at the professions that you consider are on the | | | | The most important thing is grooming and fit. They |
| same level as yourself and see what the standard is | | | | are the easiest to do and for some the most |
| for them. However, take into consideration, if they | | | | overlooked. Clean hands and nails, no fraying on the |
| are individuals who are well known already in the | | | | collar or elsewhere, clean shaven, polished shoes, |
| area, they can get away with a less formal dress | | | | clothes ironed, hair styled or at least brushed and |
| code. What you wear matters most when you are | | | | makeup for women. Poor grooming makes people |
| making a first impression. Once you have built a | | | | think - if they can't take care of themselves how can |
| reputation of reliability, great service and competence | | | | they take care of my money/mortgage/dreams etc. |
| which is well known throughout your area you won't | | | | |